Internal combustion engine



y 7, 1931- J. P. BURKE 1,812,859

1 INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE Filed Feb. 21, 1928 Patented July 7, 1931 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE JAMES P. BURKE, OF NEWARK, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-EAL! '10 EUGENE M. GAEALAN, OF NEWARK, NEW JERSEY INTERNAL GOEBUSTION ENGINE Application filed February 21, 1928. Serial No. 255,893.

This invention relates to internal combustion engines.

One object of this invention is the provision of an internal combustion engine having improved means to eliminate knocking in the engine when combustion occurs.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device of the character described having an improved means for causing a central m action of the expanding gases upon the piston head through a restricted opening.

A further object of the invention is to fur nish a machine of the class set forth in which the fouling of the spark plug is prevented.

Still another object of the invention is the production of a device that is readily applicable to any existing-engine for functionin as above stated.

%till a further object of the invention is go to create a device of the type specified which is adapted to produce an increased compression in the combustion head of any engine into which the same may be inserted.

Other objects will in part be evident and in art pointed out hereinafter.

ccordingly, the specification and the appended drawings illustrate preferred ar rangements of the invention, the scope of which will be indicated in the' following claims.

Generally described, the invention consists in the application of improved means between the cylinder and combustion chamber of an internal combustion engine to prevent what is popularly known as knocking. The said means provides a centralized or balanced pressure area on the piston head in the position of greatest compression. The said means can be made of integral construction with the engine, but is adapted in an improved manner to be inserted between the combustion chamber and the cylinder of any existing engine. For this purpose, the improvement may take the form of a plate, the

45 cooling ofthe same being insured by its proximity to the water jacket of the engine. The said plate may be arranged to take up 1 part of the volume of the combustion chamber for higher compression therein. By this invention, moreover, oil on the cylinder Wall is prevented from fouling the spark plug.

Figure 1 is a fragmentary section in elevation of an internal combustion engine embodying the invention, and showing the piston in the position of greatest compression.

Fig. 2 is a similar view of the device shown in Fig. 1, the section being at right angles to that of the former figure, and the piston moved to a diflerent position.

Fig. 3 is a section in elevation of an internal combustion engine with the improvement incorporated as an integral part of the cylinder head.

Fig. 4 is a similar view with the improvement as a separate member taking up part of the volumeof the combustion chamber.

Fig. 5 is a section in elevation of a further modification of the invention.

Referring in detail to the drawings, 10 denotes an internal combustion engine embodying the invention. The said engine includes a cylinder 11 in which reciprocates a piston 12. Coacting with the cylinder is the head 13, which is water jacketed at 14. The said head carries the usual ignition means 15 at the combustion chamber 16. Associated valves 17 for valve passages 18 may be carried by the cylinder 11.

Between the cylinder and the combustion chamber is means indicated by 19, embodying the invention. The said means provides a restricted communication or passage 20 between the cylinder and the combustion chamber, arranged for causing 'a balanced pres-' sure of the combustion gases on the piston head. With this object in view, the opening 20 may be of any suitable form, or comprise a plurality of passages, but preferably a. single opening is employed which is in alinement with thepiston. The piston in the po- 90 a few thousandths ofan inch of the means 19, so that the pressure of the combustion gases thereon is restricted to a comparatively small area, being less than that of the cylinder. bore. This prevents knocking on the piston. On the other hand, there is no appreciable retardation of the piston. As soon as the piston has started on its travel under the action of the expanding gases, as shown in Fig. 2, the pressure thereof is then effective over the full piston area to drive the same. The opening 20 ma be formed to obtain a relatively high coe cient.

According to Figs. 1 and 2, the means 19 is formed as a plate 21 that can be inserted into any existing internal combustion engine between the cylinder and combustion head thereof. By providing the said plate with a valve passage 22, the same can directly co-operate with the portions of the engine adjacent to the valve 17 Since the plate 19 is in comparative proximity to the water jacket 14, the cooling action of the latter, available by conduction and radiation, keeps the plate within a propor temperature. The material of which the said plate is made is such as to render it unaffected by stresses to which it may be subjected'at its working temperature. As the said plate overlies the wall of the cylinder, oil on the said wall can not move therealong to foul the spark plug. I

In Fig. 3 is shown a modification of the invention wherein the means 19 is of integral construction with the cylinder head 13a, and includes the plate 21a having the central communication opening 20a.

In Fig. 4 is a further modification of the invention in which the means 19 comprises a plate 216 of separate construction. The said plate has a portion 23 to reduce the volume of the combustion chamber for higher compres sion therein. The portion 23 may be formed as a boss, and the passage 20?) extends therethrough as shown.

In Fig. 5 is disclosed a still further modification by which the separate means 19 includes a central portion 24 ofiset into the cylinder 11 to extend in parallelism to the face of the piston head, and with its 0 ening 200 in alinement with the iston 12. y this arrangement the applicabllity of the invention to existing internal combustion engines is rendered extremely wide.

It is thus seen that I have provided a device which fulfills the several objects of the invention and is well adapted to meet the conditions of practical use.

By my invention as hereinbefore disclosed, the symmetry of the combustion chamber is maintained, with a resultant high efliciency. Further, due to the central location of the restricted communication between the cylinder bore and the combustion chamber, a violent turbulence is created in the combustion on the compression stroke of the piston, while in the cylinder bore, all surfaces are fully swept clean of inert or inactive gases up through the combustion chamber. This, conjointly with the small clearance provided between the piston head and restricting plate whereby the combustion of the gases is Wholly confined to the combustion chamber, permits a higher compression ratio without a tendency to detonate. The volume of the combustion chamber and the arrangement of the coacting valves is naturally such as, for the particular case, will best produce the above indicated results. Since an orifice effect is obtained at the opening in the said plate, the turbulence produced at the inlet valve is in th1s Instance of lesser importance.

I claim:

1. An internal combustion engine comprlsing a cylinder, a combustion head for the cylinder, the cylinder and head having plane inner connecting surfaces, a single separable comparatively thin solid plate engaged between said surfaces, said plate having its opposite sides substantially uniformly plane and parallel, said plate having a substantially central opening therein, said opening affording restricted communication between the cylinder and head, a piston in the cylinder, the end of the piston being parallel to the adjacent side of the plate and approaching into close proximity thereto, the combustion head representing all of the effective combustion space when the piston is in the position of greatest compression, the opening in the plate causing a turbulence in the gases driven into the combustion head by the piston, the said plate being rigid and substantially free of vibrational efiects incident to the stresses created in the compression, combustion and expansion of the gases, said plate being substantially highly heated by the combustion in the combustion head, combustible gas inlet and burnt gas outlet passages for said combustion space, said combustion space being otherwise closed, valves for said passages, and spark ignition means for the combustion space.

2. An internal combustion engine comprising a cylinder, a combustion head for the cylinder, a single comparatively thin solid plate engaged between the cylinder and head, a piston in the cylinder, said plate having its side facing the cylinder substantially .uniformly parallel to the end of the piston, said plate having an opening therein, said opening affording restricted communication be tween the cylinder and the head, the end of the piston approaching into close proximity to the adjacent parallel side of the plate, the combustion head representing all of the effective combustion space when the piston is in the position of greatest compression, the opemng in the plate causing a turbulencein the gases driven into the combustion head by the piston, the said plate being rigid and substantially free of vibrational effects incident to the stresses created in the compression, combustion and expansion of the gases said plate being substantially highly heated by the combustion in the combustion head, combustible gas inlet and burnt gas outlet passages for said combustion space, said combustion space being otherwise closed, valves for said passages, and spark ignition means for the combustion space.

In testimony whereof I'aifix ms'%1atur.

JAMES P. KE. 1s 

